Aveiro

Aveiro - History This city was once a great seaport with a history linked to its salt pans dating back prior to 959 AD. This is how it was recorded in the will of Countess Mumadona at which time the town was known by the name of Alavario. Much later, in the 16th Century it acquired new prosperity through its cod fishing industry practiced off the coast of Newfoundland. Unfortunately, very strong storms occurred at the end of the same century with the result that the harbour mouth silted up and thus virtually dealing a deathblow to all this beneficial trade. Aveiro - Description Today the area is a centre of industry but the old lagoon of about 65 sq. kms still has its charm with the many canals and the distinctive and interesting “moliceiros” boats that are used to collect seaweed. The town with its 55.000 inhabitants is basically a mixture of neat fishermen’s cottages and Art Nouveau townhouses with a few historic buildings. The small houses lining the beach area are most attractive on the eye with their distinct colourful facades of different painted colours. The church of Misericórdia dates from the 16th Century, whilst the more modest Cathedral Sao Domingos is from the 15th Century. The city’s museum is located in what previously was the Mosteiro de Jesus where Santa Joana, the daughter of King Afonso V, died in 1490.

This museum, besides holding the well carved tomb of this Saint in a richly gold decorated sanctuary, maintains an interesting collection of primitive and 15th Century art. Aveiro - Nearby Locations About 8 Kms. to the south of Aveiro is the town of Ilhavo that houses a Maritime Museum recording in some detail the local fishing history. To the south is the home of the world famous fine porcelain factory of "Vista Alegre" founded in 1824. There is an interesting museum of their products from the inception in the 1850s. Directly to the east of Aveiro are the two towns of Vouzela and São Pedro do Sul. In these two towns the houses reflect in their architecture the considerable wealth that the inhabitants have enjoyed as result of the produce taken from the fertile valley of the Rio Vouga.Several attrations in city of Aveiro:cathedral,canals. Peninsula de Sao Jacinto beaches. Nearby:Ilhavo ceramica de Vista Alegre and beaches of Barra and Costa Nova do Prado,Gafanha da Nazare.

Aveiro is known in Portugal for its traditional sweets, the ovos-moles and the trouxas de ovos, both made from eggs.

Aveiro is sometimes called "The Portuguese Venice", because of its canals and boats that remind one of the Italian city of Venice, as the city faced similar problems when it tried to conquer the water.